Islazul Villa El Bosque

The room wasn’t clean at all. There was no curtain or fridge, the phone and phone system were broken, and the toilet flush had been replaced with a string you had to pull. The shower and toilet paper holder were very rusty, and the food was awful. Hotel El Bosque is a hotel-clinic facility where they apparently “handle” positive covid cases. I was one of a few Canadian tourists in Cuba who got victimized by what I believe was a PCR test scam and sent here. They pick one random person per hotel or resort to get a vindictive positive PCR result, then send them to this hotel-clinic for mandatory 5-day observation. They insist you take a medication called Heberon Alfa and say they guarantee a negative PCR test if you do. Even after I refused several times, the doctors kept trying to persuade me. They wouldn’t tell me the cost of the medication or stay, even when I asked repeatedly. I wasn’t given a copy of my bill until they’d charged my card, and they overcharged it too. I strongly advise avoiding travel to Cuba if you don’t want to be victimized by what I see as organized crime profiting from the pandemic.

The rooms were dirty and covered in mold, and the AC didn’t work. It also leaked onto the beds. There was no breakfast, even though it was paid for. Service was horrible, and the place felt very low class compared with other motels in Cuba. I wouldn’t recommend it unless you’re broke and need a room.

The staff were really friendly, and the bar and pool service were very nice. It was a little expensive, though. We’d like to try somewhere different next time. I went in April, 2019, so things may be different now.

The continental breakfast was great. Give the shower enough time and the warm water will come through!